Delegated Authority Technician Review

I am a Delegated Authority Technician in Hiscox London Market. This involves creating and submitting applications for new insurance prospects, called coverholders. I also organise audits of coverholders around the world. This involves a lot of interaction internally with claims and underwriters. I also interact externally with Lloyd's, brokers and auditors.

We are working to achieve our Cert CII alongside completing coursework to gain a level three apprenticeship. This is alongside being put on courses such as "Debate Training" and "Spontaneity" which is all about trying to improve your personal impact and confidence giving presentations.

I am really glad I got an apprenticeship rather than going to university as being in the working world gives you a lot of responsibility and benefits. Insurance as a whole is very social which makes the training and job all the more enjoyable.

I feel very valued. This apprenticeship brings you into a real job, not just filing or making tea. The job you do actually contributes to your team meaning you receive recognition from peers, managers and senior managers.

We have tutors that meet with us for an hour and a half every month and set us work. They also order and book all your exams/resources for you. HR also have catch ups with us and book us on courses throughout the year. Managers are also helpful and allow you to study.

Training providers send us past papers, webinar links, useful articles and example essays we can use in our work. If you have any problems completing work, they are understanding and give you a bit more help and time. We did start off quite slow however and it is sometimes unclear how much is expected of us, especially doing a full time job, studying and doing apprenticeship tasks.

My manager is extremely supportive of everything I do regarding work and gives me time throughout the day to study and complete coursework. HR are very helpful and meet with us every view months. We also have our own mentors from within the company but from a different department. The mentors help you with the things you might not be comfortable talking to your manager/HR about.

The salary is good considering it is an entry level job where you receive lots of training and get put on any course you ask for. My travel is quite expensive but the company gave me the lump sum for my season ticket and then it gets taken out as monthly deductibles. I would say it's enough to still go out every week and have a social life.

There's quite a lot going on outside the office if you volunteer or ask. We did a gardening day at Richard House Children's Hospice in September and we have decided to climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks in April to raise money for them. There's always lots of free lectures at Lloyd's during lunch and different groups you can volunteer to join. I attended a focus group that wanted to make an instagram page for Insurance London Market. There are tons of lunches and drinks to attend because the location is so central so there are restaurants and bars everywhere. There's also a gym in our building and a gym over the road that everyone goes to.

Yes

Hiscox as a whole is a really good company to be brought into. The career possibilities are endless and you will be supported in whatever role you decide you want to go into. The culture of Hiscox is very friendly and supportive whilst at the same time being very fun.

Research the values and the history of Hiscox, have curiosity and courage to ask questions and want to know more. Show that you are hard working and have a positive mindset with regards to work. I had no relevant experience at all in insurance so it isn't really about what/who you know, it is about your personality more than anything.